Internal combustion engine



Nov. 12, 1935. F. c. MocK INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed April 17, 1931 Gttorneg Y. O n .N .99E m 3 .UNE

Patented Nov. 12, 1935 PATENT OFFICE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Frank C.. Mock, Montclair, N. J., assignor to Bendix Research Corporation, East Orange, N. J., a corporation of Indiana Application April 17, 1931, Serial No. 530,987

12 Claims.. (Ci. 12S-32) This invention relates to internal combustion engines and more particularly to the injection of liquid fuel in such engines.

it has heretofore been proposed to inject a charge of solid liquid fuel into the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in which the maximum compression is below that necessary to cause self-ignition. Such engines have desirable features, particularly for use in vehicles, as they have a large power output and are compact and of less weight than engines operating under the high self-ignition compression, where excessive forces and strains are encountered.

However, in such engines much difficulty has` been experienced in atomizing, diffusing, and sov proportioning the fuel charge that proper ignition andd combustion at starting and idling conditions may be had and continuous operation of the engine dependable. It has been found that such engines are extremely sensitive to the proportion of the charge formed, and that a delicate coordination must be lmade between the air throttle position and amount of fuel injected, particularly under idling conditions where a very small charge of liquid fuel is introduced. If the proper coordination is not maintained, ignition and combustion either fail entirely or become so ineicient that the engine will not overcome its ownvfriction. Because of the difficulty in maintaining theproper coordination under varying conditions, it has been practically impossible to use-this type of engine where dependability is a vital factor, such as in aeronautics, even though they are compact, light, and efficient under ideal conditions.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to improve the functioning and dependability, under all conditions, of that type of fuel injection engine in which the maximum compression is below that necessary for self-ignition.

Another object of the present invention is to improve the fuel charge and ignition characteristics of an internal combustion engine in which a solid fuel is injected directly into the cylinders.

Another object of'the present invention is to provide a novel cylinderhead construction for causing a diffusion of liquid fuel into the air charge and for insuring proper ignition by localizi'ng a rich mixture at the igniter.

Another object of the present invention is Ato provide a novel cylinder head for an internal combustion engine, which is 'compact and practical and which increases the efficiency and power output of the engine.

These and other objects will be more apparent from the following description and drawings in which like reference characters denote like parts throughout the several views. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration only and does not 5 define the limits of the invention; reference being had for this purpose tothe appended claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a modified cylinder head construction of the air cooled type incor- 10 porating a novel fuel injector and spark plug unit; and

Fig. 2 is `a vertical sectional view of the cylinder head disclosed in Fig. l.

The cylinder is provided with ns 46 formed l5 integral therewith over the greater part of its area for providing the proper radiating surface, but leaving-athreaded portion 4l adjacent the upper end. A head 48 is adapted to cooperate with the cylinder 45 to form a combustion cham- 20 ber, and has a curved upper wall 49 and a skirt 50 interiorly threaded for engagement with the threaded surface 41 of the cylinder. In 4the upper surface of the head, apertures are formed which constitute intake and exhaust ports con- 25 trolled by valves 22 and 43 respectively. A valve is provided in the manifold 53 having a head 2| for cooperating with the seat 20 and a stem 22 extending through a bushing 23 in the wall of the manifold for sliding engagement therewith.

The, cylinder head on one side is provided with a boss 55 having an interiorly threaded bore 56 located centrally thereof. A plug 51 having a threaded portion 58 at one end is adapted for engagement with the threaded portion of the bore 35 56, the other end having fins 59 on its exterior of the same contour as the fins on the cylinder head. This plug 51 is provided with two bores 60 and '6I angularly disposed with respect to the axis of the plug and adapted to hold a fuel in- 40 jector 26 and an igniter 33 .as a unit. The angle at which the fuel injector is positioned is such that the liquid fuel charge will be directed in the form of a hollow spray cone including the valve head 2| and intersecting the path of incom- 45 ing air. The bore 6I is tapped for threaded engagement by the shell of the igniter 33 so that the hot spot 'is positioned in the combustion chamber adjacent the nozzle' of the fuel in'- jeotor. A slot 62 is provided in the fuel injector 50 nozzle so that part of the stream of liquid fuel ejected will contact the hot spot of the igniter 33 in the form of a spray. On the wall opposite from the boss 55, a second boss 63 is provided having a bore 64 with internal threadsand 55 will carry the spray toward the igniter. In the operation of an engine constructed according to the present invention, liquid fuel is injected into the combustion chamber by any suitable pumping mechanism (not shown) and the fuel injection preferably occurs during the time that the inlet valve 2| is open for the admission of air. 'I'he greater portion of the jet of fuel intersects the air stream enteringthe cylinder through the opening between the valve 2| and its seat!!! and a small-portion of fuel will be thrown on each of the spark plugs 33. Each spark plug is shielded from the direct path of the air stream by the upper walls of the bores 56 and 64. The ignition of the mixture is initiated in the bores, but immediately thereafter the flame is communicated to the turbulent mixture in the main combustion chamber.

It will be readily apparent that an engine has been provided in which the main body of fuel and air is thoroughly mixed by causing the fuel to intersect the entering air stream. It will-also be apparent that the initiation of the fuel ignition is facilitated by shielding the spark plugs from the direct path of the air stream.

What is claimed is:

1. 1n-an internal combustion engine, a cylinder having a combustion chamber at the head end, an intake port in the wall of the combustion chamber forv admitting a stream of air, a valve in said port, a fuel injector so positioned and arranged as to direct a stream of liquid fuel toward the intake port at an angle with respect to its axis, said valve and injector being arranged to admit air and fuel concurrently, a pair of igniters in opposite sides of the combustion chamber one of which is positioned in the `path of the stream of the liquid fuel.

2. In an internal combustion engine,'a cylinder having a combustion chamber at the head end, an intake port in the wall of the combustion chamber, a poppet valve cooperating with the port, a fuel injector so positioned and arranged as to direct a stream of liquid fuel onto the valve and into the stream of. incoming air at an angle with respect to the axis of the port and poppet valve, a pair of igniters in the combustion chamber arranged in opposite side walls thereof and one of which is positioned in the path of stream of the liquid fuel, and means for shielding at least one of the igniters from the direct path of air stream.

3. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder having a series of lateral radiating ns, a cylinder head cooperating with the cylinder to form a combustion chamber and provided on its exterior with lateral radiating fins, an air inlet port in said head, a plug in said head having exterior fins cooperating with the ns on said head, a fuel injector in said plug so positioned and arranged as to direct a stream of liquid fuel across the combustion chamber and into the path of incoming air at an angle, means for directing a second stream of fuel from the injector and an igniter in said plug positioned' in the direct path of the second stream of liquid fuel.

4. In an internal combustion engine, a cylin-I der having a combustion chamber, an air intake valve and an igniter therein at a point below the valve, a fuel nozzle arranged to inject fuel between the igniter and the intake valve and into the path of the air stream whereby the fuel is 5 carried by the air stream to a point adjacent the igniter, a second igniter in the chamber arranged in the side wall opposite the first igniter,

"said nozzle being adapted to project an auxiliary jet of fuel directly upon the second igniter, and 10 means for shielding the igniter from the path of the air stream.

5. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder having a combustion chamber, an air intake valve and a pair of igniters therein, said igniters l5 being arrangedin a lin'e passing below the valve,

a fuel nozzle arranged to inject fuel between the igniters and the intake valve and into the path of the air stream whereby the fuel is carried by the air stream to a point adjacent the igniters, 20 one of said igniters being adjacent said nozzle and the other being remote therefrom, said nozzle being adapted to project small portions of the fuel directly upon both igniters.

6. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder 25 having a combustion chamber, an air intake' valve therein, a pair of igniters having ignition points on opposite sides of said valve arranged in recesses for shielding them from direct air flow through the valve, and a fuel nozzle adapted to inject fuel in the path of the air flow through the valve and small portions of the fuel directly upon the points of both igniters.

7. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder having a dome shaped combustion chamber, an air intake valve in the outer end of the combustion chamber, an igniter in the chamber side wall, a fuel nozzle in the chamber side wall arranged adjacent the igniter. said nozzle being adapted to inject the main charge of fuel to- 40 ward the intake valve to intersect the air flow therethrough and to inject a small portion of fuel directly upon the igniter. i

8. In an internal combustion engine having a piston, a cylinder'having a combustion chamber at the head end thereof, an intake valve in the cylinder head, a pair of spaced igniters in the chamber wall below the valve, and a fuel injector arranged in the side wall of the cylinder adjacent one of the igniters and adapted to 50 inject a main fuel charge across the air stream into Vthe combustion chamber and to direct a small portion of fuel upon each of the igniters, and means for shielding the igniters from `the path of the air stream. 65

9. In an internal combustion engine, a. cylinder having a combustion chamber, a pair of spaced igniters therein, and a fuel injector arranged to inject a mainfuel charge into the combustion chamber, said injector being posi- 60 tioned with respect to one igniter as to direct only a small portion of the fuel onto the igniter, and said injector being arranged adjacent the other igniter and having an auxiliary opening therein for directing a small portion of fuel onto 65 the second igniter.

l0. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder having a combustion chamber, an air intake valve therein, a piston in said cylinder, a pair of spaced igniters in said chamber positioned 7o in the side wall thereof between the valve and the piston, a fuel injector in `said chamber in the side wall arranged to direct a main fuel charge toward said intake valve and a small fuel charge upon each of said igniters, and means for-shiell- 16 air, and said injector being in` proximity to one of said igniters.

12. In an internal combustion engine, a. cylinder havinga combustion chamber at the head end thereof, an intake valve in the head of the cylinder movable in a plane parallel to the cylinder axis for admitting a stream of air to the cylinder, a fuel injector so positioned and arranged as to direct a liquid stream of fuel toward said valve. said valve and injector being operated to admit air and fuel concurrently, a

pair of spaced electrical ignition means in the combustion chamber one of which is positioned in the path of the stream of liquid fuel, and means for shielding both igniters from the direct path of the air stream.

FRANK C. MOCK. 

